I let out a giggle as umma told me her latest stories.

"And then there was this one woman who couldn't stop dancing at the bar! It was so much fun, I almost thought she'd jump on the table," her brown hair swished in front of the camera, laughter bubbling out.

"I miss you, umma," I sighed, pressing my nose to the screen as though I would feel her.

"I know, baby," her eyes grew soft. "Christmas, this season. Time will fly before then. How are your appointments going? How is Anya and...your new friend, Kaynath?"

"It was good mom, I was wondering if I should do laser treatment to get some body hair off, the facial hair more so?"

Her eyebrows scrunched and I wanted to reach out and smoothen them and tell her not to worry so much. But in truth, I couldn't be happier. I remembered Anya and Kaynath fighting the other day over me and it sounded so terrible like I was a piece of prize to be won.

"-you'll figure it out. How's your thing going with Kaynath?"

I had zoned out for a moment. "Kaynath?"

"Mmmhmm," she hummed positively and had a mischievous smile light up her face.

"I don't know, umma," I sighed a little. "It's just a silly crush."

"Interesting." It looked like she wanted to say more, but held herself back. I suppose I should probably solve the thing between us, but I wasn't feeling it at all. I needed a little space. Knowing Kaynath, I knew I would get plenty of it but I also needed someone to vent. Unfortunately the person I wanted to vent to was also the same person I was annoyed with.

Anya. Oh Anya.

"You seem lost, Kunji," her lips turned downward. She had used the nickname since I was a kid, meaning little.

I rolled my eyes playfully. "Just a little misunderstanding between us. I was thinking about it."

Someone called for my mom, yelling Shireen and she looked around wildly. "I have to go now, Kunji, but I love you, yeah? Tell me if you need anything."

"Love you too, mom."

She gave a little wave before hanging up but not before I heard a dubious knock on the door.

I kept aside my phone and shuffled around. Could be them or anyone else. I took an off day though it was only Wednesday.

I went to the kitchen to peek and saw it was Anya. I could ignore her or see what she had to say. I couldn't decide so I stood there for some time until something moved and I saw her turn around.

I saw her walk away and switched on the television until I saw something slide her stick something to the door and slide something under the door.

I was curious now. She was relentless, and I felt my lips turn up, forgetting our scuffle.

I waited for a little bit until she walked around the bend and then opened the door to see the note. It was vintage and had white pressed white tulips on one side and a watercolour flower the other side with her cursive handwriting. "I'm sorry."

I sniffed it like a cat to see if it had her smell and was invited by the smell of jasmines and coconut oil and inhaled it sharply.

"Aha! Knew you were in there!" someone screamed from behind the curve in the road and I jumped out of my skin and screamed right back.

A mass of black curls stood in front of me, hands on her hips.

"Anya! Why would you scare me like that?"

"No reason, I just wanted to see if you were there," her confidence wilted a little and her shoulders dropped like portulaca plants after sunset.

"I have every reason to ignore you," I raised an eyebrow and she shuffled her feet. We didn't have many disagreements or fights so I could see she struggled with how to go about the situation. That didn't mean I had to bend for her.

She nodded solemnly and turned her heel and walked back without once turning around. I couldn't ascertain if I was happy that she gave me space or the fact that she didn't even look back once that made my skin prickle like rough chiffon.

***

I switched on the T.V and went back to sewing a sweater. Not that it would ever get cold but it still helped to do something with my hands. I had invited Kaynath over for a little one on one time. I couldn't tell what I hoped for.

The doorbell rang and she came over in fifteen minutes, exactly as she said she would.

I opened the door and smiled warmly. "Come in, come in."

She wasn't even halfway through when she looked pointedly at me. "Did Anya try talking to you?"

I was surprised but quickly recovered. "No-I mean yeah, she tried. I didn't really want to."

Kaynath walked ahead after taking off her shoes, so I couldn't make out her expression. "Seems just like her."

I nudged her in the side. "Hey, I'm the only one who gets to tease-talk her."

Kaynath raised her hands in defence and smiled apologetically. "Okay, sorry, sorry. I didn't—I was mostly thinking about our disagreements. She's so frustrating."

I hummed quietly but honestly their rivalry seemed like it ran deeper than just having to share a store. "Are you two fighting about just the store or is it something else?"

"I don't know, do I?" Her hazel eyes flashed and she loosened her hijab, undoing and redoing it, undoing and redoing it. She did it a couple of times, until she got tired and then sat on the sofa. "She's your best friend, not mine."

Well, yes, I thought.

"She's just so annoying! And extremely relentless, I tell you," she huffed, crossing her arms. "I had the space first, so it should be mine."

"You guys just keep going back and forth," I paused, remembering bits of their fight. "Did you tell her we were dating?"

"Only to spite her," she replied bitterly.

"Hmm," I mused, walking to the kitchen for snacks. Snacks would definitely clear my head. "Want any snacks?"

Kaynath didn't answer but came into the kitchen and looked around.

"I have potato, banana and tapioca chips. Take your pick. Or I could make you a milkshake," I smiled at her.

"That sounds lovely. But I won't deny any other snacks," she laughed.

I gathered the ingredients needed for a Sharjah milkshake, her favourite.

"Hey, could you get the milk from the fridge?"

I popped in a handful of tapioca chips and started the mixer. I felt arms wrap around me and Kaynath laying her head on my back.

"You might've done it to spite Anya but Anya will never let you know about that," I whispered, as I added nuts and Boost powder into it.

"She gets riled up easily," Kaynath said, her voice muffled. "But that's why it's so fun."

"She's the cutest. But I am going to be mad at her for a while." I supposed it was easier to be mad at someone when you were extremely close. There weren't many instances that it happened too, so when it did, I felt neither of us knew how to go about it.

I turned around and reached up to flick her nose. Kaynath was pretty tall comparatively, and it was only noticeable when we stood next to each other or when Anya stood. Anya standing next to Kaynath was like a furious baby lion that didn't yet learn to roar. She was short, but feisty as hell.

"Do you like Anya?" Kaynath lowered her hazel eyes as she swirled her milkshake with a straw.

I laughed out loud. "I have always liked her."

"No, but do you...like her as a crush...? Do you have a crush on her?" Kaynath seemed composed asking all of this.

"Well aren't you nosy, honey," I leaned against the kitchen counter. "The real question is whether you have a crush on her. Or me."

Kaynath spluttered and choked on her milkshake. "I don't have a crush! I-"

I walked up to her and leaned in close. "All these infuriating questions, and no answers," I tugged on her hijab and grazed my fingers along her arm. "What is it that you really want to know?"

I knew looking up to meet her eyes would be a mistake. Her hazel eyes shone with the sunlight filtering through the window and I could see flecks of green in them.

"Um–"

I stopped at her waist and drew small circles on her hip. Kaynath took in shaky breaths and shuddered as I rested my head on her chest. I could feel her breasts rise and fall rapidly and her heart go wild.

I pushed away her hijab to reveal her neck and pressed my lips to it as she sighed. All this time her hands had clutched the kitchen counter behind her for leverage but now her hands slowly came up to my waist and squeezed them. "Mirza, I—"

I removed her hand from my waist and intertwined my fingers with hers and stepped away from her. Lifting her palm I pressed another kiss to it, one for each palm and her hands stilled. Her eyes searched for answers, boring into mine as I looked up.

"You've been asking if I have crushes," I said, against her hands. "Are you just curious?"

"Why not? Maybe I am like one of those gossipy relatives," she chuckled. "I think it is pretty clear what I want, Mirza."

Kaynath melted in my arms or when I touched her. I realized words lost their way now that I stood close to her. She was hot under my touch and I realized I wanted much more than I realized.

Kaynath closed the space between us before I could ponder my conflicting feelings. I liked Kaynath sure, and I wanted to kiss her right now, but–

She pressed her lips to mine and all reason flew away. She had both her hands gently cupping my face and neck. The kiss deepened and she sucked on my lower lip while threading her fingers through my hair. It was unreal and electrifying at the same time. My hands clutched at any part of her I could grasp on to. I wanted every bit of her but fear raked my mind.

What if I was just one of her sex escapades?

***

Translations:

Umma- Meaning mom or amma. Used in a different slang by a specific region in Kerala. (So, fun fact:  although the language is Malayalam, there are a lot of dialects that change with region changes and with the Muslim community too.)

No update schedule but I am glad I am not leaving the characters stranded halfway. I am going to at least try to finish this book even if it is messy. I know they kissed a little early, but only more chaos to come! Thank you for reading, and vote and comment if you enjoyed this chapter. And to the ones who wait / read as I update, I am beyond grateful for coming along this little journey with me. 

ONC Cross Promo Time!

Away to Realania by AJ_Ortega

ctrl alt del by BrianMullin0